10 July, 2009

I recently mentioned a new threadless BB design I saw in Taiwan. Much to my surprise a sample arrived today. Usually development on products like this takes a very long time, so I wasn't expecting to get one for many months.

This BB uses a new locking system that works even if the threads in the BB shell are damaged, or non-existent. That means it should fit Swiss and other oddly threaded bikes. As the adjustable cup is tightened the silver sleeve is pushed up the tapered outside face, expanding and locking in the BB. Installation requires a traditional-style BB spanner or a pin wrench.

We're going to try it on a few frames before ordering, but the quality looks great. The bearing are big sealed cartridges with serious weather seals. The body and cup are alloy with nice machining. The axle is chromo steel, but not hollow. As for the colors, we can have that changed; maybe lime green?

If all goes well we should see these arrive in about 3 months. The first shipment will probably be 107mm, 110mm, and 113mm lengths. We don't have final pricing yet, but I would guess they will run around $75.

That looks like a good design that will be useful for many project bikes. I especially like the expanding sleeve. I used to have a bike with the famous Mavic BB, but it kept loosening up on itself I suspect because it was held on only with lateral force, which was fretted loose through the repeated pedaling force.M Burdge

I have a wicked fat chance with a pressed in BBset but changed it to the Mavic threadless BB years ago. this threadless BB does fit my old Fat. I seem to recall the first generation Fats and Merlins had an undersized BB shell. Anyone local with a 1st gen Merlin or Fat that can test it for us?

If you are going to colour the BB rings, Please do port/starboard. I realise it may confuse the Phil users who have to contend with a red starboard ring on their bbs, but the rest of the world knows.mburdge

This looks to have more surface area contact with the BB sleeves than the Mavic BB, about a 1000% more since it clamps the inside of the BB barrel, not just the outside rims.

One suggestion, is that with repeated reverse cycles that pedaling would bring, a resilient coating may help the BB bite into the frame threads (I assume that you won't be spec'ing the owner to ream out the threads?).

Either that or a softer metal than the frame material. Good luck on your metallurgy, tribology and voodoo on this one!

So any recent plans for selling these little guys? Also, I love the versatility because it looks like it would be able to fit many different BB widths. Are the threaded cups on only one side or both? really what i am asking is this: do you any get chain-line adjustment like with the Phil BB's?

by your post do you mean that the Phil rings will work on a Shimano UN bottom bracket for weird threaded applications? If so, I will have to file that away in my brain under "useless factoids that may come in handy someday but probably not."

Still and all, I never thought of that. If the Shimano and Phil outer diameters are the same, that could get one out of a bind someday.